Flying Swallow Skimming the Sea, Roaming Unfettered! (Third Update—Seeking Monthly Votes and Follow-ups)

Lu Chenzhou also found this senior sister rather interesting.

Her personality seemed somewhat flamboyant.

Of course, that was not meant as criticism.

For a Martial Warrior, being suitably flamboyant was not a bad thing.

Du Men shouted:

"Senior Sister is treating? Great!"

He had met Ji Feiyan before, and the impression had been profound. In fact, when he first met his senior sister, he had even admired her. Unfortunately, he knew the two of them were impossible.

One had ordinary aptitude, while the other was a dragon and phoenix among men. Even ordinary women nowadays had such high standards—let alone someone like Ji Feiyan.

Most of the other students understood that as well.

Shi Ruyu came over and said:

"Everyone, clean up. Let's go."

Old Zhang said awkwardly:

"I won't be going. You young people can get together."

He felt somewhat uncomfortable around those geniuses.

Lu Chenzhou, on the other hand, did not mind. As long as the dinner did not run too late, it was fine.

He still had to go home and practice the Heaven Stance, and he could not make his mother worry.

A group of them gathered around Ji Feiyan and headed to the nearby Heavenly Immortal Drunk Restaurant.

At the dinner table, Ji Feiyan raised her tea in place of wine with all the bearing of a senior sister.

"Everyone, eat to your heart's content tonight!"

Shi Ruyu, seated beside her, took a sip of tea and said:

"Let's all introduce ourselves. Many of us are new faces."

Du Men was the first to raise his hand.

"I'm Du Men. Hehe, Senior Sister, do you still remember me?"

"I remember. Back then, Junior Brother Du was still at the Second Stage. Now you're already at the Third Stage. You've improved quickly—keep working hard, and becoming a Martial Artist is within reach!" Ji Feiyan said politely.

Du Men blushed furiously. He could occasionally brag in front of these students, but before Ji Feiyan, who had reached the Eighth Stage at twenty, he was nothing at all.

"Thank you for your auspicious words, Senior Sister!"

The others also introduced themselves one after another.

At last, Lu Chenzhou introduced himself.

"Hello, Senior Sister Ji. I'm Lu Chenzhou."

Ji Feiyan smiled.

"Junior Brother, that's it? You're done introducing yourself?"

"That's it."

"Don't you have any hobbies? Your senior sister wants to get to know you from every angle."

"Practicing martial arts."

"...Everyone here loves practicing martial arts. Fine, I won't make things difficult for you."

Looking at Lu Chenzhou, Shi Ruyu explained to Ji Feiyan:

"This child is straightforward. If you talk to him about martial arts, he can go on and on for an hour. Talk about anything else, and he becomes introverted and reluctant to speak."

Lu Chenzhou muttered while eating:

"That's right."

"Haha, what a cute junior brother. Still 'that's right.'"

Disciples of martial arts families like Ji Feiyan were outgoing and confident, exuding an aura that made the students present feel both close to her and distant from her. It was difficult to put into words.

They seemed to be sitting at the same table, yet they belonged to two different worlds.

That was the most despairing thing of all.

After several rounds of tea, Ji Feiyan rose and said in closing:

"Thank you all for coming, and thank you for supporting Flying Swallow Martial Hall. In the future, whether you continue training at the hall or not, wherever you may be, if you encounter any problems, you can come to me. Treat the martial hall as your second home.

Times are different from the old days. Many rotten old customs have been cast aside, but the unity and mutual aid of martial halls in the old days must be carried on! Flying Swallow Skimming the Sea, roaming unfettered!"

"Well said, Senior Sister!"

Du Men was the first to applaud and cheer.

"Flying Swallow Skimming the Sea, roaming unfettered!"

Everyone rose in succession and drained the tea in their cups.

Lu Chenzhou looked at Senior Sister Ji in a different light as well.

She looked careless and forthright, but she was actually somewhat calculating. Those words had really been spoken on Ji Xuantong's behalf, giving the students a sense of belonging to the martial hall so that they would continue supporting its business. The hall would also form a web of connections stretching throughout society.

The gathering dispersed.

Shi Ruyu repeatedly reminded everyone to stay safe on their way home.

The moment Lu Chenzhou returned home, he began practicing the Heaven Stance. Today, he had seen the geniuses of top Wudas firsthand. They truly were extraordinary, giving him even greater motivation to chase after them.

Inner city.

Pingjiang Residence, Ji Xuantong's home.

As the residence of a Martial Artist, it possessed every kind of fitness and martial arts facility, comparable to a fighting gym. Two figures darted and crossed on the ring, fierce and swift as lightning.

In the end, Ji Feiyan was sent flying. She landed after a backflip and said, "Mom, you're still as strong as ever. But by my junior year, I'll be confident I can defeat you!"

A graceful middle-aged woman with shoulder-length curls smiled.

"If you ventured into the martial world in the old days, you would have been quite an expert too."

At that moment, Ji Xuantong walked over in training clothes and asked casually:

"Feiyan, what do you think of Lu Chenzhou?"

"He's a decent person, just a little quiet. Wait... you aren't trying to play matchmaker for me, are you? I already have someone I like! It's just that I'm not qualified to pursue him yet."

"What are you thinking? He's a minor! I mean in terms of martial arts!"

"Oh, oh. I watched him spar with someone today. Among those with lower-grade aptitude, he counts as someone with potential. But Dad, if you want to take him as a true disciple, I suggest you consider it carefully."

The end of February arrived in the blink of an eye.

The Tai Lake area remained under lockdown, and the exact situation was unknown. Inside and outside the Blue Light Curtain seemed like two different worlds. Ordinary people lived their normal lives, occupied with firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea. Martial Artists, meanwhile, secretly safeguarded the Lights of Ten Thousand Homes and fought against unknown dangers.

Thus, the high status of Martial Artists was only natural. Most people with sound values merely envied Martial Artists; they did not begrudge them. Great Xia's history ran deep and long. Since ancient times, it had suffered countless invasions by foreign enemies. At critical moments, there had always been martial men stepping forward, becoming national heroes praised endlessly and remembered through the ages.

Nurtured by such a culture, Martial Artists willingly fought for the greater good of family and nation, for their people. For whom were angry fists clenched? To protect the nation, bring peace to the land, and punish the wicked.

Wanhua High School, examination hall.

Ring, ring, ring~

"Time is up. Everyone, put down your pens."

The invigilator's voice rang out.

Lu Chenzhou had already finished checking his math paper.

"There shouldn't be any problems."

After handing in his paper, Qin Zheng came over to Lu Chenzhou.

"How did it feel? Was it hard?"

Lu Chenzhou thought for a moment.

"It was alright."

Qin Zheng's heart instantly went cold. When someone as reserved as Lu Chenzhou said it was alright, that meant the test had been too easy... so why had he found it so difficult?

A few days later, the monthly exam results came out.

The homeroom teacher's office.

The math teacher's old face could not hide his smile at all.

Lu Chenzhou had placed thirteenth in the year, advancing once again.

He had always thought Lu Chenzhou had taken his advice and carved out some of his martial arts training time to work on problems. It was not until today, when he called in Qin Zheng—who had scored only ninety on the math exam—for a scolding and casually asked about Lu Chenzhou's daily routine.

Only then did he learn that Lu Chenzhou had not listened at all.

This kid had even spent more time practicing martial arts.

Aside from steadily improving in his academic subjects, Lu Chenzhou's martial arts cultivation had also advanced by leaps and bounds. Half a year ago, he had not even reached the Entry Stage. Now, he was already at the Second Stage.

"Did he suddenly undergo Aperture Opening?"

The math teacher truly could not figure it out.

How had this guy managed to improve in both martial arts and academics at the same time?

Thinking back on all the things he had said to Lu Chenzhou before.

They seemed rather unnecessary instead.

March 3rd.

Building 3, Room 2802, Shihu Garden.

Li Xianghua and Lu Guoping were video calling in their bedroom, "casually" letting their relatives know about Lu Chenzhou's exam results.

"Your Chenzhou is really capable."

"He's alright, so-so."

In the bedroom, after finishing his Heaven Stance practice, Lu Chenzhou looked toward the Martial Dao Tree.

Cultivation Method

Dragon-Tiger Heaven Stance: Third Aperture Opened

"Guanchong Acupoint, open!"

Third update complete. Seeking monthly votes, follow-ups, and recommendation votes.

Today's and tomorrow's follow-ups will determine whether this can enter the second round of recommendations.

Thank you!